how much weight do you tow with 1/2 ton gm 5.3l

[Bishops]

I have been out of the camping world for a couple years. I sold my f350 and 38ft 5ver. I currently have a 08 gmc sierra 1500 5.3 crew 4x4 and looking at a travel trailer. just curious what ya'll are towing with the 1/2 ton 5.3

[APT]

2008 is 4-spd trans. Axle ratio is important as 3.08 performance and ratings is significantly different than 3.73 and 4.10. If you do not know, look in the glove blox for the RPO sticker. You will have one of these in your list:

GU4 : AXLE REAR, 3.08 RATIO
GU5 : AXLE REAR, 3.23 RATIO
GU6 : AXLE REAR, 3.42 RATIO
GT4 : AXLE REAR, 3.73 RATIO
GT5 : AXLE REAR, 4.10 RATIO

You should also verify you have Z82 in your list for the HD trailering package. That includes transmission cooler which is essential for any high walled trailer.

Assuming you have 3.42+, towing any high walled RV means 3rd gear, 2400-27000rpm on flat ground at 65mph. That's a lot like my prior truck. Downshifts to 2nd on hills at 4000-5000rpm. As Terryallan said, the truck will do that all day long (keep an eye on trans temp). The driver may not be pleased with that level of performance.

Stick to under 6000 pounds dry for a TT. That's 7000-7500 pounds loaded.

If you have 3.08 gear, just get a replacement truck. 🙂

[Campfire_Time]

Terryallan wrote:


Thing is. Most people ride around in OD when not towing. They NEVER hear the engine work, But when it does, like when towing. They think something is wrong gonna blow it's guts out, when in reality. It is doing what it is supposed to do, and loving it.

I concur. Thing is that when I tow, it's in 3rd gear and it hums along nicely at about 2400 RPM. When the convertor unlocks it'll jump to 2800, and the occasional times it drops a gear it's still only 3500 or so. Nice and loud with my glass pack! 😄

[Iraqvet05]

I had an 07 (new body style) with the 5.3, 3.08 gear and 4 speed transmission. The first season we towed out 5000 lb (dry) Jayco, I hated it. I suspect we were close to 5800 lbs loaded but with the 4 of us in the TV, the 5.3 seemed tired in the rolling hills of central Missouri. I'd leave the truck out of OD and sometimes would have to leave it in 3rd to keeps the RPMs up or the transmission would constantly shift between 3rd and 4th. I hear the 6 speeds are more capable but I sold the 1500 for a 2500.

[Mickey_D]

My neighbor has basically the same truck but four years newer and has a 6000 pound 29 foot trailer (the box part not including hitch) and he is thinking about moving up a notch in truck. He said it tows fine on calm days but on windy ones the truck screams going into the wind and is all over the road - even with a good WD hitch and sway bars. The weight seems to be fine but the physical size of the trailer (wind area) is the problem. I would go smaller than 29 foot long.

[Hannibal]

Can't be any more of a pooch than my F250 with 5.4L, auto and 3.73. I'm happy as a puppy with two tails with it. I've not heard anything bad about the GM 5.3L.

[Army11Bravo]

I have a 2009 Chevy Silverado 4x4 crew cab with the 5.3 V8 and 3.73 gears. It pulls my Springdale bunkhouse with a loaded weight of around 7,000 pounds just fine. My next truck will be a GM diesel, but for now, I enjoy towing with my 5.3. We're taking a 10 day trip to Yellowstone and the Tetons in a couple months and don't anticipate any issues.

[twodogs603]

My friend has a 6 month old Silverado 4x4 crew cab with the 5.3 and towing package. We towed two large motorcycles on a Featherlite aluminum trailer from Virginia to Florida. The total weight was around
26800 lbs and I was very surprised how poorly his truck towed that small load. Didnt have very good pickup and it seemed like it was always straining to keep up speed on the interstate. Kept downshifting and running the RPMs up real high. I expected a lot better performance then what it had.

[kw_00]

I had an 2000 Chevy 1500 with the 5.3'and 3.42 gears with the old 4 speed. At that time I was pulling a small 24 footer 5th wheel around 6500lbs. I had no issues with it, sure it was slower in Georgia mountains but overall a good truck. That being said I would not have wanted to go any heavier then that with the truck. Now it appears that u have an 08 so u should have the 6 speed and since a 4x4, u may have the 3:73 or at least 3:42. So your truck should do better since it has more HP and TQ plus the 6 speed auto. Good luck with your purchase.
Kris

[Need-A-Vacation]

Bishops,

Does your truck have the 4spd tranny? Can't remember when they went to the 6spd, may have been '09.

Biggest issue you will run into is payload for the hitch weight. Depending on how much you load in the bed of the truck, and what your family weighs total.

I had a '10-1500 ccsb 4x4 5.3/6spd/3.42 and never felt I had to have more power pulling our old ~6500lb tt or our new(er) ~7300lb tt. Issue was PAYLOAD! We did have a cab high topper which will eat up 200lbs, but subtract that and we were right at gvwr (over w/ topper by up to ~200lbs), and right at the rar.

How many do you need room for in the trailer?

[CaLBaR]

I towed the 7200 lb trailer in my signature with a 2006 5.3 with the 3.42 axle. Towed fine but like others have said high RPMs and always towed in 3rd gear. Didn't like headwinds too much either. Towed 7000 miles or so from Ontario to BC once and a couple of time to Florida too.

[Terryallan]

Rbertalotto wrote:


Must have been something wrong with my 5.3 or my expectations were simply too high.

Thing is. 5.3 are supposed to rev. that is where they make their power. High reving is actually good for them. They are very happy at higher RMPs.

Thing is. Most people ride around in OD when not towing. They NEVER hear the engine work, But when it does, like when towing. They think something is wrong gonna blow it's guts out, when in reality. It is doing what it is supposed to do, and loving it.

[Campfire_Time]

Rbertalotto wrote:


Must have been something wrong with my 5.3 or my expectations were simply too high.

That's why I asked about a possible clogged CAT. I had it happen. Truck was fine in day to day driving, but towing it could barley get up to speed, and mileage was horrible. I got 6 towing a 3550# travel trailer.

[Rbertalotto]

It was a 5.3 and I never did research the rear end gear ratio. Truck went like a raped ape when not towing. But put a trailer behind it and it was not a good day. I towed that trailer twice from Massachusetts to Montana and back. The last trip I got home on a Monday and Wednesday I had a Dodge Diesel!

This Diesel will tow my 5 place , 10,000 motorcycle trailer like it isn't there. It has NEVER downshifted going up any hill. And towing I'm getting 15mpg. I have to use cruise control to stay under 75mph. Nothing like a diesel for towing.

Must have been something wrong with my 5.3 or my expectations were simply too high.

[Campfire_Time]

I have pretty much the same truck. Mine has 3:73 gears. I'm towing a 4750# GVWR 21 ft hybrid trailer. It tows like a dream. Almost no downshifting. I'm taking the rig to Tennessee in Sept. I'm not expecting stellar performance in those hills, but I do expect it to do reasonably fine. I would not hesitate to tow an additional 1000#, but probably not much more than that. Keep in mind that it's just me and my wife, and my payload is over 1600# so I have a lot of room to play with. You'll need to check your payload sticker.

Ignore Trailerlife ratings. They are just general for basic planning purposes and don't give you everything you need. You need to look at 3 things, the payload sticker in your driver door, your owner's manual, and your RPO sticker in your glove box. Your gear ratio is an RPO code on the sticker. 3 were available for your truck:

GU6 = 3.42 RATIO
GT4 = 3.73 RATIO
GT5 = 4.10 RATIO

Rbertalotto wrote:
I had that truck before I got my current Dodge. A 2004 Chevy, crew cab short body. Beautiful truck but not a good tow vehicle

The motor, transmission and rear axle was terrible for towing. And it had the optional heavy duty towing package. My 3500 pound double motorcycle trailer was a chore. Up hills it would downshift to 2nd gear and blow its brains out trying to maintain 45 mph. Gas mileage with this trailer was 9 mpg!

No, you didn't have that truck. In '07 a lot of changes were made the the GM truck line, not the least of which is a HP and torque increase. Still, I wonder what motor and gear ratio? I'm betting it was the V6. Even in '04 the 5.3 should have been fine for pulling a 3500# motorcycle trailer. My old '03 Trailblazer with 4.3 inline 6 towed my old 3500# travel trailer thorough mountains just fine. Unless maybe you had a clogged CAT? :h

[MARK_VANDERBENT]

Rear gear makes all the diff with that truck with heavy loads